Month: August 2015

Who would be a better employee to start off our new ‘meet the staff’ blog feature than our very own store manager: Dani? That’s right, no one…that’s why she is our first feature.

Miss Danielle Jackson is our go-to-gal for all things ‘muy importante’. She has the best smile on the block, some serious product knowledge, and probably some of the funniest facebook updates I have ever seen. And if you want to know the fastest way to Nichole & Frannie’s hearts- be a hard worker, and make us laugh.

Photo by: Ampersand Studios

Tell us a little bit about you and your background:I’m a Boise State senior majoring in Communications, and long-lost best friend of Mindy Kaling and Lena Dunham (I’m sure). There are few things I love more than a campfire s’more and a good pair of wedges. While I love my big city birthplace of San Francisco and catching the occasional Giants game or musical, I have deep roots here and a love for all things Idaho. Who wouldn’t love a city where you can wake up to a skyline filled with hot air balloons?

What is your favorite part about working at Paperie + Pen?I love working for a small local business and the freedom we have to bring in whatever vendors and artists we want!! I think it’s so cool that we get to bring the prettiest little things from near and far to customers who are just as excited about them as we are!

When your are not working, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?I love hiking in the foothills with friends and then hydrating with a Prefunk brew (that’s healthy, right?). I love the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings, and Sunday brunches on patios (I’m president of the No Mimosa Left Behind campaign). And Hawks games are too much fun, even though my baseball knowledge is gleaned from my brief kindergarten T-ball stint.

What are 4 superficial things you can’t live without?Chapstick. I have 3 half-used tubes in my purse currently. It costs to be luscious. Cafe Rio salads. Pure perfection in a little tin bowl takeout dish… thingy. My Spotify account! Gotta have dem sick jamz at my fingertips at all times. Coffee. Caffeine is just good. Good for the body, mind, and soul. And that’s undebatable.

Favorite P+P vendor and why:It’s hard to choose, I love so many of the things we carry. But I’ll have to say ban.do. How can you not love a company whose tagline is “Have fun, OK?” Sure ban.do, if you insist!! Everything is just so colorful and fun, while also maintaining a trendy sophistication. And go ahead and add their artistic director Jen Gotch to aforementioned list of my long-lost soul sisters.

Favorite Restaurant in the Boise Area:Fork and Bittercreek Alehouse are tied for two of my most frequented restaurants. I could go on about how cool it is that they use mostly locally sourced ingredients and all, but mostly they’re just really freaking delicious. If you haven’t tried the grilled cheese and tomato basil fondue from Fork, well then honestly I don’t know what you’ve been doing with your life.

Favorite Movie: I’d have to say a strong go-to is Clueless. Still saving up my P+P paychecks to install my computerized rotating closet. Favorite Song/Singer/Band: I love Indie Rock, and have a soft spot for late 90’s early 2000’s hits. (Say My Name by Destiny’s child will forever be my power jam). Lately I can’t get enough of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. And I listen to the Weeknd’s “I Can’t Feel My Face” like, 5 times a day.

Favorite Thing(s) to order from Starbucks:Dirty Chai. It’s a real thing. FOR REAL!

Favorite TV Shows: The Office, The Mindy Project, Seinfeld, and Flight of the Conchords are the ones I’m proud to admit, but I definitely tune in weekly for The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. #Sorrynotsorry I believe is what the kids say.

Favorite Celebrity Crush:John Kransinski. Don’t make fun! I would be the PB to his J. (Pam Beesley to his Jim for people not in the Office Fan Club).

What is your best on-hand joke?Well, I would tell you a good chemistry joke, but all the good ones ARGON. (See what I did there?? Zing!)

Sum yourself up in a hashtag:#itsthefreakinweekendbabyimabouttohavemesomefun I know it’s long, but R.Kelly doesn’t care. R.Kelly does what he wants.

This week, we said goodbye to an old frienemy. Although we officially closed after the holidays this year, it was time to clear out- forcing us to go through boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes of past invitation samples, old art-school projects and art supplies, and outdated design books. It was a bittersweet farewell, and though not a tear was shed, I think that Frannie and I can both agree that some heart strings were tugged.

For those of you who are unfamiliar: the previous ‘Paper Express’ had over 10 years of business selling bulk paper and invitation-making supplies to offices and paper-lovers in the Treasure Valley. When the business was forced to close in the summer 2013, we took it as an opportunity to take the next step toward or dream of one day having a storefront for our Custom Wedding Stationery business that we had previously been meeting by appointment only in our private showroom (basement office space- now Soiree Weddings) and online. Frannie and I made a hasty deal with the previous Paper Express owners to then take over the store in a new fashion and a new name, “Paperie + Pen” was born. After only a couple of days of training with Mike of Paper Express, we were totally 100% ready to run a retail store…not. We realized we were probably in way over our heads and figuring it out one step at a time, as we have with every part of our business. After lots of successes and mistakes- we have formed a business model and brand that we can be proud of.

Closing our Fairview store made me realized a lot of truths, mainly that we have a hoarding problem, but more importantly: that I am SO thankful and so humbled everyday to do what I love. I am thankful for my business partner, who really couldn’t be a better fit. I am thankful for our loyal customers, who care about our existence and choose to shop in our store over big-box competitors and online. I am thankful for our employees, our backbone that we trust with our everything and represent the face of our store. I am thankful for hard work paying off so we can have a dream come true that is worth being proud of.